Feb. 27, 2014

Written by

News-Leader Staff

A Willard man was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday for what authorities call his role in a $1.9 million conspiracy to distribute synthetic drugs through his business in Battlefield.

John Waddell, 49, was charged in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Waddell and his wife owned and operated Bilbo’s Earth Store in Battlefield under their company Johrri Enterprises, LLC.

The federal indictment alleges that Waddell participated in a conspiracy to distribute a controlled synthetic substance in Greene County from April 1, 2011, to Sept. 25, 2013, according to a news release from the office of Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Waddell is also charged with maintaining a place in Battlefield for the purpose of distributing a controlled substance and with possession of several firearms related to the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Waddell was allegedly in possession of a Springfield Armory .40-caliber pistol, a Bersa 9mm pistol and a Springfield Armory 9mm pistol., according to the release.

The indictment also charges Waddell with one count of money laundering and two counts of structuring a currency transaction to evade reporting requirements.

According to the release, the indictment contains forfeiture allegations, which would require Waddell to forfeit to the government any property obtained from the proceeds of the alleged violations or any property used to commit the alleged violations.

Those include, according to the release, $1,928,204, the amount involved in the conspiracy; Waddell’s residential property in Willard; Waddell’s commercial property in Springfield; 83 electric, acoustic and bass guitars; a five-piece drum set; dozens of speakers and amplifiers; several guitar cases; three pistols; $32,271 seized from Waddell’s residence; a certificate of deposit in the amount of $100,000; $216,535 in the bank accounts of Johrri Enterprises, LLC, Bilbo's Earth Store, and $1,323 in Waddell’s bank account.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt, according to the release. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury.